2022-2023 FACULTY
Being educated in the arts, experienced in teaching, and enthusiastic about the art of dance are qualities that are required of our staff. As teachers, we strive to provide our students with every ounce of knowledge and guidance they need to progress & grow in dance. We are proud to hire instructors who encourage self-confidence, perseverance, and dedication in and out of the studio so that our students may do the same for others.
Cristina Ramirez
Founder & Artistic Director
Cristina Siegel Ramirez is the Founder and Artistic Director of Coalesce Center for Dance Artistry. Her dance education began at four years old and continued into her teens. During her youth, her interests in dance led to a bigger investment in the arts as she began studying ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. Dedication and excellence in dance earned her a scholarship to DeSales University, where she later graduated with a BA in Dance with concentrations in ballet and modern. There, she also graduated with a minor in Italian.
During college, she was instructed by esteemed professors; Timothy Cowart, Angela Sigley, Trinette Singleton (Joffrey Ballet,) and had the privilege to perform for Tara Madsen Robbins, Camille Armstrong, and Natalie Desch. While continuing to teach in Montgomery, Lehigh, & Bucks Counties, she began rehearsing and performing with the Lady Hoofers, Philadelphia's premier all-female professional tap company. Cristina is a proudly certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor and continues to further this education.
The past four seasons at Coalesce have been incredible thanks to my teachers, our studio families, and each and every one of our dancers who has stepped onto this dance floor. You all have helped to shape this studio into a place where dedication, support, and kindness are all key components of what we all experience here. I am honored to head into this 5th Season with a fantastic group of faculty members, families, and awesome students who share the same values that we do.
Jaimie Geddes
2022-2023 Instructor
Jaimie Geddes has been dancing for the past 33 years and has been teaching in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the past 14 years. She trained in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical at Jazz Unlimited Studio of Dance Arts in NJ, winning numerous regional and national titles. She had the privilege of studying with Meghan Braun, Molly Misgalla, Mia Michaels, Joe Lanteri, and Andy Blankenbuehler.
Her love of dance led to a passion for musical theatre, and she went on to obtain a BFA in musical theatre from NYU. She has since played many iconic roles including Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Cassie in A Chorus Line, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity, Lola in Damn Yankees, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and Sandy in Grease. She is currently a member of the resident company at Music Mountain Theatre in Lambertville, NJ.
She has taught at different studios throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties in addition to spending 5 years as the dance choreographer at the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference in York, PA and assisted Tony nominated choreographer Lorin Lotarro (Broadway's Waitress, Into the Woods) at the Bucks County Playhouse. She most recently got her BSN and works in oncology and hematology. She is excited to continue to share her passion for technique training and performance with Coalesce!
Elizabeth Miles
2022-2023 Instructor
Elizabeth Miles has over 40 years of ballet and contemporary dance teaching experience in private schools, dance companies, and educational institutions.
Elizabeth is skilled in teaching both Vaganova and Cecchetti Techniques, she is RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Certified, SIlver Swans Certified (RAD), and is proficient in Martha Graham Modern Technique. Her experience in the arts gives her dancers a pre-professional training experience. Additional training was received from the following: Ballet Trianon, Martha Graham School, Academy of Dance (Wilmington DE,) David Howard (NYC, NY,) Vladimir Dowkoudovsky (NYC, NY,) Temple University (Philadelphia, PA,) Joan Kerr-Horton Technique, Dermott Burke (Princeton, NJ.)
Elizabeth Miles was a company member and soloist for Ballet Trianon for 10 years under the direction of Michael Lopuszanski in Philadelphia, PA. She then became the Assistant Professor of the Department of Theatre at the University of Delaware in Newark for 5 years. Elizabeth has also worked as a ballet coach at Brandywine Ballet Theatre under the direction of Donna Muzio in West Chester, PA, as a choreographer at Rita Jones Dance Company in Philadelphia, PA, as the Ballet Mistress at Dance Elite for Classical Ballet for 15 years under the direction of Delana Blore, among others.
Dance provides students with a sense of discipline and an appreciation for art and beauty. Movement like everything else in life has a rhythm that stirs the soul and awakens a passion for life. Whether a student is working toward a career in dance or taking class for personal enjoyment, the training and the dedication of the instructor is the same.
Kaitlyn Miller-Cox is a dance educator and performer with a Master of Fine Arts in Dance degree from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Kaitlyn is an adjunct professor at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, teaching Introduction to Tap and Introduction to Jazz, with plans to continue teaching at the collegiate level.
Her performance and training highlights include the Tuscan Summer Dance Intensive in Livorno, Italy, Radio City Rockette Intensive, performing in Walt Disney World and the Miss America Show Us Your Shoes Parade. She performed with the Lady Hoofer Tap Ensemble as an apprentice company member in December 2019. She continued her dance training at DeSales University, where she received a BA in Dance and Business Administration.
She has been a dance teacher for many years, working with many age groups from young children to adults. She also has extensive training in one-on-one and group stretching techniques to help students improve their flexibility, mobility, and overall life. Kaitlyn is also the office manager of Friendly Tax Advisors and became an Enrolled Agent in December 2020.
Kaitlyn Miller-Cox
2022-2023 Administrator, Substitute Instructor
Yuki Ishiguro
2022-2023 Instructor
Born in Japan, Yuki Ishiguro founded Yu.S.Artistry in 2018 in New York City after emigrating to the United States. Yuki graduated Ritsumeikan University in Japan with a BA in Business.
During college, he watched breakdancers perform on the streets of Kyoto and was immediately inspired to dance. After studying ballet and breakdance intensely, Yuki worked as a professional ballet dancer in Japan. In 2009, he moved to New York City to study contemporary dance at “Dance New Amsterdam”. While living in New York, Yuki earned his Simonson Method certification and his RYT500 Yoga teacher certification.
In addition to his classical and contemporary training, Yuki also studied with renowned street performers such as Kenichi Ebina, winner of America's Got Talent, Season 8. Before the foundation of Yu.S.Artistry, Yuki performed as a professional dancer with Roxey Ballet, Emery LeCrone Dance, IsadoraNOW, Catapult Entertainment, and DanceVisions NY. He also toured with fusion flute musician, Kenzie Slottow and worked in collaboration with Japanese master Koto musician, Tomoe Sasano, at Carnegie Hall.
From his trainings and professional performance experience, Yuki created his signature choreographic style. In addition to working as artistic director for Yu.S.Artistry, he teaches at Institute of Dance Artistry and The Rock School West, and has offered master classes at Nazareth College.
Yu.S.Artistry was founded in 2018 by Yuki Ishiguro. His choreographic works have been presented at various adjudicated dance festivals across the country, such as Booking Dance Festival at Lincoln Center, NYC, WHITE WAVE’s Solo/Duo Festival at Dixon Place, NYC, DUMBO Dance Festival at Gelsey Kirkland Theater, NYC, Come Together Dance Festival at Suzanne Roberts Theater, Philadelphia, CDCfest at Orlando Rep Theater, Virtual Pathway Dance Festival in SF, among others.
Donna Heffner
2022-2023 Instructor
Donna Heffner is a tap dancer, performer, instructor, and choreographer who has been tap dancing over 35 years. She has had amazing opportunities to train with some of the best tap dancers of our time. She was part of a week long tap lab with the iconic Heather Cornell, which was a life changing experience. She also completed an 8-week tap teacher intensive training course with Karida Griffith.
She is the Artistic Director of Buck and Wing Tap Company, an adult and youth performance company located in Bucks County, PA. The company has performed in Philadelphia and NYC, as well as tap festivals along the East Coast. Recently, Donna choreographed a piece for the Flair Festival and is excited to be showing a piece again this fall. Donna's mission, both for class instruction and for Buck and Wing Tap Company, is to keep the history of tap alive and to provide performance opportunities for anyone who wants to tap dance.
Donna is a 10 year member of Uniting Colleges Through Tap, a Philadelphia based adult tap company under Director Corinne Karon. In addition to performing, Donna has taught all levels and ages of tap for over 20 years, including award winning choreography in student competitions. Her focus is not just on the steps, but teaching dancers how to be musicians as well.
Donna is also a championship level Irish dancer and one of the few remaining Toetap dancers in the country.
Olivia Wood started dancing when she was 3 years old at Position One School of Dance in Portsmouth, RI where she grew up. During high school, she supplemented her ballet training with pointe classes at the Newport Academy of Ballet, home of Island Moving Company, and performed at IMC’s Nutcracker at Rosecliff Mansion.
Olivia graduated Summa Cum Laude from Muhlenberg College in May 2017 and received a BA in Dance and Spanish. There, she performed works by Megan Flynn, Jeffrey Peterson, Teresa Vandenend Sorge, and Orion Duckstein. She also attended the American Dance Festival in 2014 and 2016, where she performed choreography by Sherone Price and Gesel Mason, and attended the Dance Educators Training Institute (DETI) with ClancyWorks Dance Company.
For the past 5 years, Olivia has been based in Philadelphia and NYC, where she danced for distinguished artists such as Anne-Marie Mulgrew, Karen Fuhrman, Teddy Fastcher and Frank Leone, Asya Zlatina, Anito Gavino, and Yuki Ishiguro.
Her work with these choreographers allowed her to perform at the Performance Garage, the Suzanne Roberts Theater, the Guggenheim Museum, and Peridance Contemporary Dance Center. Olivia also works as a freelance choreographer and has presented solos at the Koresh Artist Series and KYL/D’s inHale Performance Series and has performed for Philadelphia’s Come Together Festival, Philly Fringe, and NYC’s KoDaFe. Olivia teaches dance classes for People Living With Disabilities in partnership with Artist House Dance and is certified Level 1 in Grounded Aerial Bungee Technique. She currently teaches at a variety of studios between Philadelphia and New Jersey, and works as Associate Director for Yu.S.Artistry.
Olivia Wood
2022-2023 Instructor
Mary Kacsur has been dancing for over 16 years, training in various styles such as ballet, pointe, contemporary, tap, modern, jazz, Horton, hip hop and more. She is currently a student at The University of Michigan working towards her dual-degree of a BFA Dance and Cognitive Science on the pathway to Speech Pathology. At The U of M, she was a part of the SMTD First-Year Touring Company, where 18 company members travel to local events, schools, and fundraisers in Michigan to share their passion for dance. Mary grew up dancing at The Pennsylvania School of The Performing Arts and was a company member for 11 years.
In addition to PSPA, Mary trained with Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Princeton Ballet School, McCarter Theatre in Princeton, Steps NYC, Broadway Dance Center, Radio City Rockette Workshops, and Joffrey Ballet. Mary is a CB East Alumna and participated in many Patriot Players Productions as an actress, singer, and Dance Captain. In the arts, she has earned the roles of Tiger Lily in Peter Pan and Kristine in A Chorus Line.
Mary has a passion for teaching students of all ages, levels, and abilities to enjoy dance while developing strong technique and expressing their artistic selves. She could not be more thrilled to join the Coalesce Dance Family!
Mary Kacsur
2022-2023 Instructor
